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The effect of material prosperity on happiness: Evidence from Europe
Rečková, Dominika ; Pertold-Gebicka, Barbara (advisor) ; Bauer, Michal (referee)
Easterlin paradox referring to relatively stable levels of happiness and increasing in come over time, although these two seem to be correlated at one point in time has became a hot topic among economist researches in recent decades. The thesis ex tends the usual income analysis to reveal the nature of correlations between material prosperity and happiness. Series of 15 OLS, ordered probit and ordered logit models together with 35 quantile regressions provide a complex analysis of possible happi ness drivers. Results find significant correlations between material prosperity and happiness, and between happiness and social life. The relationship between income and happiness might be non-linear and influenced by various factors. Happiness is found to be dependent on relative income and socio-politic living environment which explains the Easterlin paradox. JEL codes D6, 124, 131 , J31 K ey words Happiness, Well-being, Life satisfaction, Public pol icy, Material prosperity, Reference point, Inequality
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Measuring the Index of Constructive External Engagement: ICEE for the Czech Republic
Svitáková, Lucie ; Janský, Petr (advisor) ; Votápková, Jana (referee)
In this thesis we compute the Index of Constructive External Engagement (ICEE) for the Czech Republic. First, we introduce the theory of the index and discuss its differences with Commitment to Development Index from which ICEE originates. Second, we find the necessary data and compute the score of ICEE for the Czech Republic. Third, we discuss the overall result and subsequently the score of each component separately. Finally, we create an original comparison of ICEE with other related works to ascertain its current data validity. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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The Consequences of new ways measurment of economic welfare for recommendation to economic policy
Hrnčířová, Kristýna ; Štika, Pavel (advisor) ; Skuhrovec, Jiří (referee)
Current economic policy, favoring particurarly economic growth as a condition for the growth of well-being, is confronted with empirical evidence that despite this effort, population is not always satisfied. This thesis examines, in addittion to economic growth, also other important economic indicators such as unemployement and inflation, their interrelations and connections of these indicators with the satisfaction of population. It presents reasons for importance of the development of these variables for the satisfaction of residents and to what extent satisfaction can be affected by these variables. Variables are investigated from the perspective of mainstream economics and the economics and happiness. In conclusion, this thesis summarizes recent findings of leading economists on possible revision of economic policy to better reflect present empirical evidence. Key words: Economic policy, subjective well-being, well-being, income, unemploment, inflation, Easterlin paradox .
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Assessment of quality of life and public services in Bučovice
Machálková, Kateřina
The objective of this diploma thesis is to "Assess the quality of life and public services in Bučovice". The theoretical part is based on general information about the term "quality of life" and its assessment. The practical part focuses on respondent's satisfaction with living in the town. On the basis of the survey, practical recommendations that should help to improve the quality of life in Bučovice were defined for the town council.
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Are inhabitants of western Europe happier that inhabitants of eastern Europe?
Čermák, Jiří ; Němcová, Ingeborg (advisor) ; Karpová, Eva (referee)
The aim of master thesis is finding answers to the question, if inhabitants of western Europe are happier than inhabitants of eastern Europe. I want to compare standards of living in these regions based on the indexes of living standards. Further I want find out, if the happiness is measurable. Europe during the economic crisis has shown that GDP of countries slowed down, but is this economic indicator showing happiness of nations? Does it present satisfaction and well-being of the population? Can we identify some relation or dependence between GDP and happiness of the population? What are the indicators that are able to answer this question? A substantial part of my work will be comparison of the individual indexes of living standards and I will specify, what means standard of living and what are the components. In the practical part I want to compare reality in different areas of human life, which is related to the standard of living and to compare these data between the nations in western Europe and eastern Europe.
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Rationalisation of the US Welfare State in the 1980s and 1990s
Dusil, Jakub ; Johnson, Zdenka (advisor) ; Soukup, Jaromír (referee)
The thesis deals with changes in attitude towards the US welfare state in the 1980s and 1990s, when its classical (liberal) concept was outshined by a more rational attitude of conservatism. Through a reduction in the number of welfare recipients President Reagan wanted to terminate the growth trend in the cost of social security. His provisions, however, caused a reduction in work incentives of welfare recipients and a significant decline in income of these people. Along with measures positively motivating to work President Clinton limited eligibility for social benefits and caused significant changes in the behavior of groups of people most dependent on these revenues. Analysis in the last part is focused on the effects of these measures on American society and changes in the well-being of various groups of the population. Findings show that Clinton was able to exploit the good economic conditions of the late 20th century better than Reagan. His social reform caused a more significant decrease in the number of those receiving social benefits, which was also accompanied by improvements in living conditions of US citizens - by growing self-sufficiency through increased labor participation and a decrease in poverty.
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Exploitation of Sub-Saharan Africa: Myth, or reality?
Rychetský, Petr ; Kotýnková, Magdalena (advisor) ; Procházka, Pavel (referee)
The aim of this work is to analyse the amount of wealth that annually leaves Sub-Saharan Africa. The theoretical part introduces individual theoretical concepts that are involved in the work's topic. In practical part, there is given a space at first to the quantification of the very amount that leaves Sub-Saharan states every year. Furthermore, the size of this wealth is measured with regard to the economic character and the level of development of individual countries. Measured is also the origin of that money according to the different industries. The work answers the question, which reasons stand behind the fact, that Sub-Saharan region sends annually not-negligible wealth to the rest of the world. This work shows that there is a direct proportion between nation's wealth and the size of money leaving the country, represented by the gap between GDP and GNI. This is caused by foreign investments, which stand behind the economic development, however the revenues usually go into rich countries outside Africa. The least loss of wealth is therefore recorded from the poorest states, whereas countries most affected by the wealth loss are usually richer and heavily dependent upon natural resources mining.
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Ochrana životního prostředí jako otázka zvyšování blahobytu v EU
Kinský, Roman
The bachelor thesis examines the impact of environmental protection on welfare in the EU countries and current approaches to economic development, welfare and environmental protection. By using statistical methods will be used to compare lands with use variables characterizing the welfare. As a next step the environmental dimension and the results will be compared with the previous will be included, from which conclusions will be drawn about the impact of the environment on welfare in the EU.
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Životní úroveň britských a španělských spotřebitelů
Gašperčíková, Denisa
Bachelor`s thesis deals with the issue of measuring living standards using the indicators that depict it`s material side, mainly GDP. It uses indicators of material living standards and alternative indicators of living standards. Secondly it deals with participation of the English and the Spanish in tourism. Required data were obtained from secondary sources. The questionnaire survey was made to bring subjective views of each country`s citizens on their living standards, focusing on factors that affect the choice of vacation. Secondary and primary data are put into context with each other and complemented with recommendations for subjects doing business in tourism.
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Stínové ceny v české ekonomice
Sieber, Martina ; Kislingerová, Eva (advisor) ; Soukup, Jindřich (referee) ; Vlček, Josef (referee)
The doctorial thesis is focused on shadow pricing. The aim is to describe as complex and full description of the problem as possible. Briefly said, Shadow prices are prices of goods which would take a place on the efficient market, if such a market with the commodity existed. In the case of consumption benefits they in fact present monetary value of the utility increment resulted from additional consumption. They are basic information input into any socioeconomic evaluation. Research of shadow prices is underdeveloped in the Czech Republic. With respect to the fact the thesis contents description of basic theoretical concepts as well as list of attainable methods for shadow prices derivation. Main variables determining shadow prices (under condition of WTP, WTA and Social Opportunity Costs concepts) are the existed society welfare and social preferences. From this perspective if clear and evident that there would not be appropriate to use shadow prices conducted abroad for evaluation in the Czech economy. Each state has its own level of welfare as well as specific social and ethical values widespread among citizens and so specific shadow prices as well. Not just shadow prices them self are not simply applicable for evaluation in each country. Similar problem we have to face, if we try to use the same methods of deriving shadow prices in different areas. That is why the thesis also serves critical analysis of attainable methods and their assessment. Based on the assessment is stated, what methods are more or less appropriate and under which condition in the Czech area. In principal should shadow prices reflect Social Opportunity Costs of input usage for evaluated changes and Willingness to Pay of the society for the outputs of evaluated changes (or alternatively Willingness to Accept) with no respect to the fact if the good (or output or input) is market good or nonmarket good. Even though we differentiate in the methodological level between market and nonmarket good the theoretical and conceptual background is the same. The background is rooted in the neoclassical economics. For the practical reasons as a analyst time and budget constrain it is not too efficient in evaluation of marketed goods always perform deep empirical market analysis from primary data even though it would be theoretically ideal and correct. Fortunately we are usually not forced to do it. In majority of cases we can follow LMST methodology of shadow prices and derive so called Conversion Factors for transformation of market prices to shadow prices. The Conversion factors are usually derived for wider group of goods which is sold in the similar market. Such values we call Sector Conversion Factors. A Shadow price of an individual unique good we than receive by its market price multiplication by most appropriate sector conversion factor. With respect to current Czech evaluation practice situation, when sector conversion factor are very often used but their estimates are more less based on very poor quality of underlying theory and very often without sufficient data background, the quantification of SCF in the theses could be viewed as quite significant contribution. With respect to their specific characteristics nonmarket good as safety (VSL), time, noise, etc. should be valued separately. And the thesis is offering at least methodological contributive guidelines regarding theoretical validity and relevance as well as assessment of their applicability under Czech condition. For better imagination there is collected sample of results of selected externality values for foreign countries.
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